Migrating Landscapes Lands at the WAG for National Exhibition

The national finalists of Migrating Landscapes' architectural competition meet at the Winnipeg Art Gallery on Thursday, March 15 to find out who will represent Team Canada at the 2012 ‘Olympics of Architecture’. Migrating Landscapes, along with all the national winners, will then compete for the coveted Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 13th annual Venice Biennale in Architecture, in Venice, Italy. Migrating Landscapes is based on the organizers’ shared experience relocating to Canada, and the exhibition opens to the public at the WAG on March 15 at 7pm, where it will remain on display until April 29.

The architects behind the project are three talented Winnipeggers who didn’t always call Manitoba home. “Migrating Landscapes was inspired by our own experiences,” says Johanna Hurme, who co-founded 5468796 Architecture with Sasa Radulovic and, along with Jae-Sung Chon, form the organizational and curatorial team. “I was born in Finalnd, Sasa was born in the former Yugoslavia, and Jae-Sung, who was our professor at the University of Manitoba, is originally from South Korea. We think this experience of migration is quintessentially Canadian, and we’re excited to explore what it means for Canadian architecture.”

Reflecting how Canadian architects and designers under 45 have been influenced by migration and immigration, the Migrating Landscapes national competition has resulted in regional winners and exhibitions across the country. Regional winners are now heading to the National Exhibition at the WAG, where a jury will select a “Team Canada” to represent our country at the 2012 Biennale. Manitoba regional winners include: Andre Silva, Chris Gilmour, and Kory Kaspersion; Dominique Rey and Lancelot Coar; Jason Hare; and Travis Cooke and Jason Kun. Hare also won People’s Choice Winner, determined by visitors to the Manitoba exhibition held at the Forks in February.

The opening is preceded by a National Jury Forum, “Reflecting on Migration & Identity”, on Wednesday, March 14 (8pm) at the University of Winnipeg’s Eckhardt-Grammaté Hall, presented in partnership with Gallery 1C03. Featuring National Jury Members (Eleanor Bond, Ian Chodikoff, Anne Cormier, Bruce Kuwabara and John Patkau), the forum is moderated by the WAG’s own Executive Director, Dr. Stephen Borys. “We are proud to participate in such an historic undertaking that brings together innovative dwelling designs from across the country, indicative of Canada’s rich cultural fabric,” says Borys.

Join us March 15 for a free public opening of the National Exhibition. Regular admission is $6 WAG Member; $15 Family with membership; $18 Adult; $16 Students and Seniors; $40 Family. To register for National Jury Forum: Reflecting on Migration & Identity, email migratinglandscapesjury@gmail.com. Tours are offered on March 25, April 1, and April 22, all at 3:00pm. For more information on Migrating Landscapes visit migratinglandscapes.ca and wag.ca. For the latest updates follow us on Twitter @MLOrganizer and @wag_ca.

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For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jayne Miles
Communications
Migrating Landscapes Organizer
204.480.8421
info@migratinglandscapes.ca